Magnetic novelty with liquid release



March 27, 1956 R. K. DUGDALE MAGNETIC NOVELTY WITH LIQUID RELEASE Filed July 51, 1953 INVENTOR.

ATTDRN EYS United StateS Patent MAGNETIC NOVELTY WITH LIQUID RELEASE Richard K. Dugdale, Sheridan, Ind.

Application July 31, 1953, Serial No. 371,445 v 7 Claims. (01. 46- 237) This invention relates to toys, and in particular a toy in which a part of the body of the toy is counter-balanced and the counter-balanced part is actuated by a permanent magnet, separated from the body.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means whereby upon the approach of one toy to another, a part of one of the toys is actuated to signal or salute the other toy.

Various types of devices have been provided for moving toys and parts thereof and permanent magnets have been incorporated in toys and other devices for actuating the devices and parts thereof. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates incorporating a tube having magneticattraction in the trunk of an elephant wherein the tube counter-balances an element in the elephant, and whereby upon the approach of the elephant to a stand having a magnet thereon the trunk is actuated to discharge a liquid by the magnet.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a magnetically actuated toy 'that operates, automatically, as one toy approaches another.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a toy animal sprays a liquid in which the liquid may be replenished.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a toy animal having a magnetically actuated counter-balanced element incorporated therein in which the animal is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a toy, such as an elephant, having a trunk with a tube of material having magnetic attraction extended through the trunk and a reservoir positioned in the head and connected to the tube extended through the trunk, means for hinging the trunk to the head with the trunk and tube therein counter-balancing the reservoir, and another toy positioned at a remote point and having a permanent magnet incorporated therein.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the toy elephant and showing the trunk in the elevated position in which water is sprayed therefrom.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the head of the elephant showing the trunk in the lower position in which the reservoir is positioned in the upper part of the head.

Figure 3 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showing the trunk in an upwardly extended position with the reservoir in the lower position.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the head of the elephant showing the method of hinging the trunk in the head.

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 illustrating a modification wherein the tube through the trunk of the elephant is provided with a receiving end having a restricted opening capillary attrac- 2,739,420 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 tion therein and showing the receiving end extended into a tank positioned in the head.

Figure 6 is a detail showing an arm of a toy man with a sleeve of material having magnetic attraction on the forearm.

For the purpose of illustration the device is illustrated as incorporated in a toy elephant and used in combination with a baby elephant, however, the parts are adapted for other uses, such as a station master waving to friends on a passing toy train or vice versa.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved magnetically actuated liquid spraying device of this invention includes a tube 10 of material having magnetic attraction incorporated in a trunk 11 of an elephant 12 with the trunk pivotally mounted by a pin 13 in a head 14 of the elephant, and with the upper end of the tube 10 connected to a tube 15 extended from a reservoir 16, and another elephant or animal 17 positioned in a tray 18 and having a permanent magnet 19 mounted on the upper end of a post 20 extended from the tray.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the trunk 11 extends into an opening 21 in the head 14 and the meeting edges of the parts are covered with a sleeve 22, preferably of flexible material. With the trunk mounted in this manner it drops by gravity to'the position shown in Fig. 2 and when the trunk approaches-the magnet 19 the magnet influences the inner tube 10 drawing the trunk upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 whereby liquid in the section 23 of the reservoir 16 flows downwardly through the tubes 15 and 10 wherein the liquid may be discharged from the end of the trunk, as shown in Fig. l.

The tube 10 is provided with an enlarged cup-shaped section 24 into which the lower end of the tube 15 eX- tends, and the reservoir 16 is provided with a throat or ,neck 25 that is positioned to register with an opening 26 in the head of the elephant with the trunk in the lower position. With the parts in this position the section 23 of the reservoir 16 may be filled with liquid through the opening 26 and neck 25.

When the elephant is not in use the neck 25 is closed with a stopper 27 and before the elephant is moved to such a position that the trunk will be influenced by the magnet the stopper 27 is removed.

In the design illustrated in Fig. 5 a tube 28 similar to the tube 10 extends through a trunk 29 and the upper section 30 of the tube 28 is provided with a receiving end 31 having a restricted orifice 32 therein whereby with the size of the orifice formed to provide capillary attraction liquid in a tank 33 may be siphoned through the tube 28 and discharged from the end of the trunk, as shown in Fig. 1. The tank or pan 33 may be positioned directly below the opening 26 so that it may readily be refilled with liquid.

With the parts arranged in this manner the elephant 12 is moved toward the elephant 17 with the trunk in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with the parts 23 of the reservoir 16 filled with water and as the trunk moves into the influence of the magnet 19 the trunk moves upwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the liquid flowing from the part 23 through the tube in the trunk and spraying upon the elephant 17.

In the detail shown in Fig. 6 an arm 35 pivotally mounted on a toy man 36 and having a counter-balancing weight 37 extended rearwardly therefrom is formed with a sleeve 38 of material having magnetic attraction, and as the man passes or is moved close to a magnet, the arm will move upwardly, as shown in dotted lines.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy animal comprising a body, a trunk pivotally 2. A toy animal comprising a body, a trunk pivotally mounted in the body, a fluid receiving counter-balance on said trunk within said body, material having magnetic attraction carried by the trunk, a magnet, and means for discharging fluid through the trunk from said fluid receiving counter-balance, so that the fluid discharge is responsive to, and'occurs only upon the approach of the body to the magnet.

3. A toy animal comprising a body, a. trunk pivotally mounted in the body, material having magnetic attraction carried by the trunk,a magnet, a rigid support supporting the magnet in an elevated position, and a counter-balanced means for discharging fluid through the trunk so that the fluid discharge is responsive to, and occurs only upon the approach of the body to the magnet.

4. A toy animal comprising a body, a trunk pivotally mounted in the body, material having magnetic attraction carried by the trunk, a magnet, a rigid support for supporting the magnet in an elevated position, a counterbalanced fluid container in the body, means connected to the container for discharging fluid through the trunk upon the approach of the body to a magnet to overbalance said container, and means whereby fluid is supplied to said fluid container.

5. A toy animal comprising a body, a trunk pivotally mounted in the body, material having magnetic attraction carried by the trunk, a magnet, a rigid support for supporting the magnet in an elevated position, a fluid receiving counter-balanced container in the body, means connected to said container for discharging fluid through the trunk so that the fluid discharge is responsive to, and occurs only upon the approach of the body to a magnet,

said body having an opening therein, said fluid receiving counter-balanced container being positioned in the body to receive fluid inserted through said opening, and whereby fluid is supplied to said trunk upon the overbalancing of said fluid container upon the attraction of the material within said trunk by said magnet.

6. A toy animal comprising a body, a trunk pivotally mounted in the body, a tube of material having magnetic attraction extended through said trunk, said tube having a counter-balance reservoir having fluid thereinon the end extended into the body, a magnet, and means positioning the magnet whereby the trunk is elevated as the body approaches the magnet so that fluid is discharged from said reservoir through said trunk.

7. A toy comprising a body having a cavity therein, an

element pivotally connected to the body and extended therefrom, a counter-balanced reservoir having fluid therein mounted in the cavity of the body and having a tube extended therefrom and through said pivotally connected element, said tube and element being positioned to counter-balance the fluid in the reservoir and a magnet, said tube being of material having magnetic attraction so that when said body is moved toward said magnet said tube and element will be moved to overbalance said reservoir to cause the fluid therein to be discharged through said tube, and means for lowering the pivotally connected element upon removal of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent Cavanaugh Nov. 24,1953 

